Suction-pump



C. W. BETHUNE.

SUCTION PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26| I917.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

UNITED STATES CHARLES BETHUNE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SUCTION-PUMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 26, 1917. Serial No. 208,898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BETHUNE, a citizen of the United States residin at Buffalo, county of Erie, and tate of ew York have invented a new and useful Suction-liump, of which the following 1s a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n a pump for producing suction drainage of the bladderafter suprapubic c stotomy or prostatectomy wounds; and t e objects of my improvement are:

To provide a simple, practicable, and self contained pump to operate independently of extraneous sources of power as for instance, without the requirement of electrical current, running water or other agency; to provide an apparatus of this type in which there will be maintained for a requisite period, a suiiicient degree of suction and which will operate under such control as to avoid the drawin of blood.

With these and other objects in view as will be set forth in the following specifications the invention consists of the construction, the combination, and in detail and arrangement of parts as will be more particularly set forth in the specifications relative to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with the containers in sectional detail, taken vertically through the container.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a form of clamp for securing one of the containers to the frame which is shown in horizontal 'cross section. a

The apparatus comprises a pair of suitably shaped and suitable sized containers A and B, set in relatively reversed positions with theirnecks or'mouths adjacent to each other and suitably mounted upon a carrier in the form of a tubular frame 2, which is pivotally mounted, centrally of its length upon a stationary frame or support 3 of such constructionthat the frame 2 can be rotated about its axis or bearing upon'the top of the support 3. While the containers A and B are shown as in the form of bottles-it is obvious that they may beof any suitable form and construction. To secure the containers in position, the necks of the same are embraced by respective clamps 4 which prevent longitudinal movement of the containers, whose mouthsv are closed by stoppers of suitable construction and material and through each of which is extended a dip nozzle or tube D connected by an intermediate part which has a suitable controlling device in the form of a clamp of any suitable type designated at 5, operated as a valve to control the flow of liquid from the upper container to the lower one in the operation of the apparatus.

Openin into the lower or mouth portion of each o the containers is a relief or vent, respectively desi nated S and E, for the containers A and These Vents comprise tubes which are extended upwardly along the sides of the frame 2 to points adjacent the outer ends of the containers respectively. The outer ends of the tubes S and E are opened for the free admission of air into the upper of the containers and for the eduction of air from the lower container when the apparatus is in operation.

Extending through each of the containers A and B, and approaching the outer ends thereof, is a tube V, the adjacent ends of which are connected to a -Y-shaped device designated at 6, from which is extended a common tube 7 preferably of flexible material, which entersthe upper portion of another receiver or container (J, from which runs the suction tube J, which has an end piece adapted to be properly applied to the patient.

In operation the 'bottle or container A is filled with a suitable quantity of water containing, for instance, one dram of phenol for the pur ose of destroying fungi, b attaching a nnel to the respective tube by the removal of the tubular connection. with the branch 6. The container A is then turned to the uppermost position as shown in Fig. 1 and enough water is allowed to run therefrom to cover the lower end of the tube V in the container B and the controlling device 5 is set or adjusted so as to permit water to drop from the upper container A to the lower container B at the rate of five drops per second through the tubes D D. This produces a regulated negative pressure or a tendency to a vacuum n the u per container A and thence to the tube V therein to the branch 6 and through the flexible tube 7 so that a vacuum or low pressure is produced in the container or receiver 0, and a suction is produced through the suction tube or piece J thereof, the lower end of which is slightly below the terminal Patented Apr. 12, 1921. i

of the tube 7, of the receiver C. When the container A is uppermost, the periodic flow of air inwardly through the relief pipe or tube S into the container A, prevents the formation of a vacuum of over fourteen inches of water therein and obviously as the water passes from the container A into the lower container B, air is displaced therefrom through the vent or release tube E. When the upper container becomes nearly empty, it is only necessary to swing the frame 2 to reverse the position of the container, and the suction will be made to continue from the pipe 7, while the functions of the pipes S and E are simply reversed, so that the lower one becomes an escape or vent pipe and the other becomes a relief or inlet pipe for air.

The function of tube S .is to admit air into the uppermost chamber and by its position and structure to regulate the amount of air that will be admitted. As soon as the vacuum in the upper chamber becomes too great it sucks air through the tube S. For the treatments herein described this suction is too great when the negative pressure exceeds the equivalent of drawing air through one inch of mercury. Thus for instance if the catheter which is in the wound is choked, the tube S will continually blow because the constant dripping of water is constantly increasing the negative pressure. On the other hand if the drippings at D be so fast as to produce a suction that exceeds the desired supply from the wound the negative pressure will increase and start the valve to blowing. Thus the tube D when set at 5 drops per second causes just the proper amount of liquid, say urine, to be extracted from the patient and the tube S prevents this from being accomplished under a strong enough suction to draw blood. When the containers are reversed E assumes the function of S and S assumes the function of E. In the position shown in the drawing with A at the top S inducts air and E educts air. Each then has a reversible function of induction and eduction.

1. A vacuum pump comprising diametrically disposed containers, a tube communicating with the ends of the containers, a tube connecting the inner ends of the containers, and combined seal and relief tubes, one for each container and extendin from the inner ends thereof to points a jacent their outer ends respectively.

2. A vacuum pump comprising a frame, a double yoke member pivotally supported by the frame, containers carried by said yoke member diametrically, a tube communicating with the outer ends of the containers, a tube communicating with the inner ends of the containers, and a tube communicating with the inner end of each container and extending therefrom exteriorlyi to a point adjacent its outer end.

3. In a reversible double container vacuum pump, a combined relief and seal member comprising a tube having one open end adjacent the outer end of a container and the other end communicating with the inner end of the container, whereby when the container is filled elevated and operating as a reservoir said tube operates as a negative pressure seal and relief valve, but when said container is empty inverted and operating as a receiver said tube operates as a free relief to the atmos here therefor.

SHAS. W. BETHUNE. 

